Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s

Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s is the final installment in a series on neurodegenerative diseases, centering on three families living with Alzheimer’s disease, a type of dementia that causes significant memory loss, speech difficulties, and behavioral shifts.

Andrea is a single woman in her 30s, living in a small Michigan town. When her mother, Kristy, is diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Andrea becomes her primary caregiver. As Kristy’s illness progresses, Andrea searches for a way to move to a larger city where they can connect with a broader community and find more support. Carlos Olivas III must move home to Sacramento when he unexpectedly becomes a caregiver for his father who begins experiencing Alzheimer’s symptoms. After a difficult period of acclimation, Carlos embraces his role and ultimately becomes an advocate for caregivers at the California State Capitol. His father, in his 80s, reignites his artistic passion and immerses himself in drawing each day as his condition progresses. Living in New York City, Janice and Sue have been a dynamic couple for over four decades. Sue’s symptoms began about 10 years ago, and Janice balances her own work as a theater director and tour guide with her caregiving for Sue. The pair surmounts obstacles with humor and flexibility, though the progression of the illness threatens their equilibrium.

The film explores how disease impacts identities and relationships—when one partner becomes a caregiver or how both parent and child are transformed when the traditional role of provider is reversed. These participants remain anchored by profound and loving bonds amidst financial, logistical, and emotional obstacles.